Sue Diamond

Sue died peacefully on the evening of September 18, 2016.  She was born December 30, 1925, in the small community of Shiloh in northern Brevard County, Florida, the third daughter of Frank and Susan Arline Kuebler.  Her parents’ families were among the earliest settlers in that area of Florida.  As a young man, Sue’s father walked from Kentucky to join his brothers’ citrus packing business near Shiloh.  Her mother, a Florida native, was a school teacher before marriage.  While in school in Titusville in the 1930s, Sue met her future husband Jack, whose family was also Florida pioneers.  Sue was a good student and began college at Mary Washington College in Virginia.  After a year in Virginia, she became homesick and returned to Florida where she continued her studies at The Florida State College for Women in Tallahassee.  Meanwhile, Jack studied agriculture at The University of Florida in Gainesville.  After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and served in Belgium as a P-51 Mustang pilot escorting bombers over Germany.  Together again after the war, Sue and Jack married in Titusville on June 16, 1946.  Sue graduated the next year ‑ a proud member of the last class to earn their degrees from The Florida State College for Women – the following year The Florida State College for Women became Florida State University.   Sue majored in Home Management, a popular major for young women after the war.  She was an excellent seamstress, an expert in nutrition, and an accomplished home manager.  After Jack’s graduation from The University of Florida, the newlyweds made their home in Orlando, where Jack began his career with The U.S. Soil Conservation Service.  Their first two daughters, Margaret and Melissa, were born there.  In 1959, the young family moved to Dade City, in Pasco County, Florida.  Soon afterwards, their third daughter, Patti, was born.   Following Jack’s retirement from the U.S. Soil Conservation Service, Sue and Jack toured Europe several times and enjoyed their second home in the mountains of north Georgia.  In 1989, Sue and Jack moved to Cantonment, where they made many new friends. 

Sue is survived by her life-long love and husband of 70 years, Jack, and their three daughters along with their husbands and children: Margaret Diamond (Peter McLean) – Jeremy Benetz (Alicia); Melissa Dandridge (Bob) – Lisa, Wade (Melissa), William; and Patti Dempsey (Daniel) – Jessica and Andrew Anderson.

The family wishes to extend their most sincere thanks and appreciation to the staff of the ER, ICU and PCU units of Sacred Heart Hospital, where during her short stay, Sue was treated by their most tender, caring, and professional staff.

The same sincere thanks and appreciation is extended to the staff of People’s Home Health, whose staff was always so very warm and helpful to Sue and her family.

On Saturday, September 24, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm, the family will welcome friends at Bob and Melissa Dandridge’s home at 1073 Pinedale Lane, Cantonment.

While at Sacred Heart Hospital, a member of Sue’s family had the pleasure of meeting a little 7 year old girl named Lilly who was a patient at the Children’s Hospital.  Lilly has been treated for kidney disease and cancer her whole life.  In lieu of flowers Sue asked that memorial donations be made to Lilly’s family.  Contributions can be made through Pay Pal: Brandymatt8@gmail.com.